Geelong provides update on injured trio as match sim squad locked in
Geelong has provided a more detailed update on Cam Guthrie, Shaun Mannagh and Toby Conway. The Cats have also confirmed their practice match line-up to face Hawthorn.
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Injury-hit Geelong veteran Cam Guthrie has been officially ruled out of both practice matches as the Cats named a 31-player squad to take on Hawthorn on Monday afternoon at GMHBA Stadium.
This masthead reported on Thursday that Guthrie, lively forward Shaun Mannagh (foot) and Toby Conway (back) all faced delayed starts to the 2025 season and the Cats have released further details about the trio.
Guthrie will not feature in Geelong’s practice matches against Hawthorn and Essendon as he continues to be troubled by his Achilles blow which has seen him play just one VFL game – the Cats’ semi-final defeat to Southport - since round 10 last season.
The 32-year-old’s 2023 season was wiped out by a toe injury and he was sidelined for two months at the beginning of 2024 after a quad setback in the opening minute of their first practice match.
Mannagh has started running after being sidelined for most of the pre-season with a foot stress issue and is set to be back alongside his teammates in drills in the next fortnight.
The 27-year-old was an important part of their forward line in the back-half of the season and the Cats will have a better idea of his availability closer to opening round.
Conway, who said suffered his back disc blow while coughing in bed according to midfield coach Steven King, began running in the past week as the Cats cautiously manage the promising yet injury prone ruckman.
The 21-year-old is aiming to rejoin the main group in the next month.
“It’s obviously a challenge for ‘Tobes’, he hasn’t had a great run at it. Off-season surgery on his foot and then just had a disc issue, I think it was in bed sort of coughing, something pretty innocuous that obviously happened,” King said on Thursday.
In his absence the Cats have named ruck trio Rhys Stanley, Sam De Koning and Mitch Edwards, with King impressed by the uncapped Edwards’ pre-season.
Boom recruit Bailey Smith will make his first appearance in Cats colours but Jack Martin has not been named, with King saying on Thursday that he would be “touch and go” for their season opener against Brisbane as they build the forward’s body.
Young Cats Mitch Knevitt, Jhye Clark, Connor O’Sullivan, George Stevens, Oli Wiltshire,Ted Clohesy and Jay Polkinghorne have been given the chance to press for home-and-away spots against the Hawks.
Geelong will also be without Tyson Stengle and Lawson Humphries who were part of the Indigenous All Stars’ win over Fremantle on Saturday night.
Humphries had 20 disposals and seven marks while Stengle kicked a goal and had 16 touches.
Cats rookie draftee Xavier Ivisic will be sidelined for the next 6-8 weeks after going under the knife to repair a syndesmosis injury and was on crutches at Geelong training on Friday.
Geelong’s four-quarter scrimmage with Hawthorn kicks off at 2pm at Kardinia Park and entry is free.
Cats members can sign up to a digital plus membership to watch the match simulation and every game of the AFL season live and free.
GEELONG INJURY LIST
Toby Conway (back)
Toby Conway has been managed throughout the pre-season with a back injury. In the last week he has commenced running and will begin a conditioning block with the aim of being integrated back into football drills in the next 4 weeks.
Cameron Guthrie (achilles)
Cameron Guthrie will be unavailable for the upcoming Match Simulation and AAMI Community Series games against Hawthorn and Essendon as he deals with an achilles injury.
Shaun Mannagh (foot)
Shaun Mannagh has been managed throughout the pre-season with a right foot stress injury. He has commenced running over recent weeks and will be reintegrated back into football drills in the next fortnight. A return to play timeline will be determined ahead of Opening Round.
Xavier Ivisic (ankle)
Xavier Ivisic has sustained a right ankle syndesmosis injury at training last week. He has had surgery and is expected to miss the next 6-8 weeks.
Originally published as Geelong provides update on injured trio as match sim squad locked in
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